System for self modification

ABSTRACT

A solution providing for the dynamic design, use, and modification of models is provided. The solution can receive an electronic communication identifying a request or event and process the electronic communication in a runtime environment by binding a model of the collection of models to dynamically construct an implementation of the model. Collective properties of the set of related models can emerge dynamically. The binding can comprise late-binding of an application associated with the collection of models to enable at least one user to perform at least one interaction using the environment without disrupting any of the environment or the application.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The current application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/930,872 filed May 13, 2020, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/243,012 filed Jan.8, 2019 now U.S. Pat. No. 10,678,518, which is a continuationapplication of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/281,564 filed Sep.30, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,175,956, which is a continuationapplication of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/791,820 filed Jul. 6,2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,483,238, which is a continuation applicationof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/846,630 filed Mar. 18, 2013, nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,075,616, which claims the benefit of U.S. PatentApplication No. 61/612,907 filed Mar. 19, 2012, each of which are herebyincorporated by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to model development and use, and moreparticularly, to dynamic design, use, and modification of models using asoftware application that provides for self-modification.

BACKGROUND ART

All organizations want to be agile so they can seize opportunities,respond to threats, and generally evolve. Adaptation is a fundamentalcounter-entropy strategy; organisms, including human organizations thatfail to adapt to their environment are not sustainable.

Adaptation as it relates to human organizations includes an ability tosupport local “variance,” (including automated personalization for asingle instance and user-driven modification for a single instance)where the variance can occur without a disruptive “exception,” andglobal change, (including automated “machine learning”) where change tothe whole for all future instances can occur without disruption.However, for software developed using a conventional style, such asObject Oriented Development (OOD) and Service Oriented Architecture(SOA), local adaptation and global adaptation commonly result indisruptive exceptions, as both styles are generally procedural in natureand deliver fixed implementations of models. In these styles the modelsand their implementation are generally ‘hidden’ behind staticinterfaces, methods and/or the like, so the models are not modifiabledirectly by people utilizing the models or by software agents working ontheir behalf. While a model, or its interface, methods and/or the like,may allow for a range of conditions, those conditions are not subject tovariation and change directly by the users interacting with them—theyare other fixed attributes of the model. This approach limits dynamiclocal variance and global change, creating a discontinuity where use andmodeling are divided into a “run-time” and “design-time” respectively.

This is the normative convention of software application modeling. It isa paradigm that was established when everything was standardized, changewas infrequent and any change was always centrally controlled. In ourtime of rapid and decentralized change, this paradigm has become arate-limiter for enterprise agility, organization-wide structuralimpedance that makes variance and change ‘expensive’ if not, in manycases, impractical for technical reasons alone. This approach limits thegeneral utility of such models and they become increasingly less usefulovertime (entropy), such that ‘exceptions’ and change management aremajor logistical challenges for modern businesses that limit theiroperational responsiveness. It results in: delays and frustration;shadow systems, which compound change management problems; and lostbusiness value. Given the centrality and importance of informationsystems to most organizations, the ability for related models to supportadaptability (non-disruptive variance and change) is conceptuallyfundamental to business agility.

The act of modeling defines an ‘object’ for a purpose. In the context ofa human organization and Enterprise information systems, models includedata models (entities and entity relationship diagrams), process models(flowcharts), service interfaces, business objects, and/or the like. Amodel definition provides facts regarding an object's attributes,including relationships to other objects. The definitions, attributesand relationships of models are generally subject to change, the onlyvariable being the frequency of change. When model definitions areencoded and deployed in a static fashion they structurally constraininteraction to the design-time context of the central ‘modeler’ and/ordesigner or the like without consideration of the context of subsequentuse of the model (premature optimization), thereby ensuring exceptionsto the model, which must be handled, if at all, in a discontinuousfashion. Each implementation is an execution of the ‘as is’ model. Theapproach promotes standardization at the cost of variance and change.

The conventional software application model, as represented by ObjectOriented Development (OOD) and Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), isto design static models of business entities, business objects,services, and processes. To form business applications, the models areintegrated, generally in a tightly-coupled manner, which leads todependencies. As part of a greater system of interaction between models,the problems of adaptation are compounded as change to an applicationconsuming multiple models might also require change to multiple modelsto achieve the intended change to the application's properties. Inaddition, in the course of modifying an application, any change to onemodel of the set of models may negatively impact (e.g., ‘break’ or‘crash) instances of the application, the application as a whole, andmight even cause problems for the greater system on which theapplication runs. The more complex the application, the higher number ofdependencies, the harder it becomes to support variance and change.

In the meantime, the world is becoming increasingly distributed, therate of change is accelerating, and business requirements are becomingmore complex, all of which exacerbate problems with the conventionalsoftware application model.

The inventors previously described a solution for increasingcontext-based customization of interaction deliverables in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/698,361, filed on 2 Feb. 2010, published as U.S.Patent Publication No. 2010/0199260, which is hereby incorporated byreference. An embodiment of the solution provides a softwareapplication, which includes work order resources, each of which definesan atomic operation for the software application, and a constructionservice resource, which processes the work order resources in responseto all interaction requests for the software application. Eachinteraction request is received from a client and identifies acorresponding work order, which the construction service processes todynamically construct a set of deliverables, which can include a customrepresentation of the work order. While processing the interactionrequest, the construction service, as directed by the work order, canmake one or more requests to context resources for context informationcorresponding to an activity for which the interaction was requested toconstruct the set of deliverables. The work order resource can comprisea reflective program that enables the construction service todynamically determine and construct the set of deliverables, includingthe next appropriate interaction(s), using the context information,thereby directing a set of atomic operations as part of an activitybeing performed and enabling the dynamic context-based construction ofinteraction deliverables.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the invention provide a solution providing for the dynamicdesign, use, and modification of models is provided. The solution canreceive an electronic communication identifying a request or event andprocess the electronic communication in a runtime environment by bindinga model of the collection of models to dynamically construct animplementation of the model. Collective properties of the set of relatedmodels can emerge dynamically. The binding can comprise late-binding ofan application associated with the collection of models to enable atleast one user to perform at least one interaction using the environmentwithout disrupting any of the environment or the application.

In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a computer systemcomprising: a processing component; and a storage component, wherein thestorage component includes at least one non-transitory computer-readablemedium storing a software application, wherein the software application,when executed by the processing component, enables the computer systemto implement an environment for managing models that provides forrequest or event driven modification of a collection of the models. Insome examples, the managing includes receiving an electroniccommunication identifying a request or event; and processing theelectronic communication in a runtime environment by binding a model ofthe collection of models to dynamically construct an implementation ofthe model in the collection of models, wherein the collection of themodels includes at least one set of related models, and wherein eachmodel in a set of related models can configure at least one of a set ofproperties of the set of related models so that collective properties ofthe set of related models emerge dynamically from interaction of the setof related models, and wherein the binding comprising late-binding of anapplication associated with the collection of models enables at leastone user to perform at least one interaction using the environmentwithout disrupting any of the environment or the application.

In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a computer program productcomprising program code stored on at least one tangiblecomputer-readable medium, which when executed, enables a computer systemto implement a method of managing models using a declarative applicationmeta-model that provides for self-modification of a collection of themodels. The method may include receiving an electronic communicationidentifying a request or event; and processing the electroniccommunication in a runtime environment by binding a model of thecollection of the models to dynamically construct an implementation ofthe model in the collection of the models. The collection of the modelsmay include at least one set of related models, and wherein each modelin a set of related models can configure at least one of a set ofproperties of the set of related models so that collective properties ofthe set of related models emerge dynamically from interaction of the setof related models. The binding may comprise late-binding of anapplication associated with the collection of the models enables atleast one user to perform at least one interaction using the environmentwithout disrupting any of the environment or the application.

In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a computerized method ofmanaging models using a declarative application meta-model that providesfor self-modification of a collection of the models. The method maycomprise receiving an electronic communication identifying a request orevent; and processing the electronic communication in a runtimeenvironment by binding a model of the collection of the models todynamically construct an implementation of the model in the collectionof the models. The collection of the models may include at least one setof related models, and wherein each model in a set of related models canconfigure at least one of a set of properties of the set of relatedmodels so that collective properties of the set of related models emergedynamically from interaction of the set of related models. The bindingmay comprise late-binding of an application associated with thecollection of the models enables at least one user to perform at leastone interaction using the environment without disrupting any of theenvironment or the application.

Other aspects of the disclosure provide methods, systems, programproducts, and methods of using and generating each, which include and/orimplement some or all of the actions described herein. The illustrativeaspects of the invention are designed to solve one or more of theproblems herein described and/or one or more other problems notdiscussed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the disclosure will be more readilyunderstood from the following detailed description of the variousaspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings that depict various aspects of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows an illustrative environment for dynamic management ofmodels using a declarative application meta-model that provides forself-modification according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an illustrative conceptual architectureof an environment of a software application according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows an illustrative process for processing a user requestaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows an illustrative flow diagram of interactions of users witha collection of model resources according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows an illustrative conceptual architecture of various types ofapplication components according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows an illustrative conceptual diagram of an applicationaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows an illustrative conceptual diagram of an information spacefor an application according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows an illustrative processing cycle of an event according toan embodiment.

FIGS. 9A-9I show illustrative graphical user interfaces according toembodiments.

It is noted that the drawings may not be to scale. The drawings areintended to depict only typical aspects of the invention, and thereforeshould not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In thedrawings, like numbering represents like elements between the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein, unless otherwise noted, the term “set” means one or more(i.e., at least one) and the phrase “any solution” means any now knownor later developed solution.

The inventors recognize that the conventional software application modeldoes not support the desired business agility. The inventors proposethat structure, including the structure of a software application or anEnterprise IT systems infrastructure, should flexibly support a range ofstructures fit for business purposes, as well as support overall change.By conflating a model with its implementation, the conventional softwareapplication model creates accidental complexity resulting in impedancewithin the enterprise information system infrastructure. The act ofsolution development is generally not supportive of applicationlifecycle management post solution delivery, thereby addressing ashort-term business problem while creating a long-running problem forthe business as it relates to evolving the application for futurerequirements.

Furthermore, the inventors recognize one or more problems with thecurrent distinction between development (“design-time”) and end user(“runtime”) environments in the software development lifecycle.Frequently, an application change cannot be fully tested in thedevelopment environment without fully replicating the runtimeenvironment, which may not be possible or may be prohibitivelyexpensive. As a result, many issues introduced when an application ischanged remain undetected until the application is executing in theruntime environment. These issues grow significantly with the complexityof the system, making many of these systems more prone to having issues.Additionally, an ability for an end user to customize applicationbehavior is limited to changing those settings predefined by thesoftware developer during design time for that part of an application.Such an ability is not a generalized capability of the application orthe greater system in which the application interacts.

The inventors propose a solution, in which the benefits of the model canbe obtained, while providing flexibility in implementation and allowingchange to the model. The model can be separated from (e.g., only looselycoupled to) its implementation so local variance of an instance of amodel (including user-driven modification and automated“personalization”) and/or global change to a model (includinguser-driven modification and automated “machine learning”) are enabled.Furthermore, the solution can provide an ability to readily create newversions of a model, while preserving history, so that the model can beupdated seamlessly to accommodate change. The solution can willfullyconstrain personalization, variance and change to restrict who, what, orwhen those properties are available. However, such a constraint is not astructural inhibition of the solution, rather those rules themselves canbe subject to the same properties and are capable of being modified inresponse to changes in requirements.

To this extent, the solution can model in a declarative manner thatpreserves loose-coupling of stateless immutable models, handled asrepresentations (as in a REST-style architecture) of a model and executein a fashion (e.g., late-binding) that enables use and interactions withmodels while preserving their loosely-coupled and stateless nature. Thedeclarative modeling, loose-coupling, immutability, statelessness, andlate-binding of an embodiment of the solution allows for the separationof models from their implementation (e.g., representations of modelsbind at run-time), enabling local variance and global change in acontinuous non-disruptive fashion that supports business agility, whilesupporting restrictions of a type that are not structural constraints,and while providing audit history and rollback capabilities to allow forvariance and change to be transparent and manageable.

In an embodiment, the inventors propose a software applicationdevelopment model that does not require a distinction betweendevelopment of the application and use of the application in anenvironment. Furthermore, the software application can be used to modifyitself. While development of such a software application can be done ina separate development environment, the proposed software applicationdevelopment model does not make a distinction between design andruntime. The inventors propose that such a distinction in theconventional software application model is an unnatural, unnecessaryabstraction. The physical separation of the design and runtimeactivities creates a discontinuity, a divide between development and useof the application, which creates challenges with both softwaredevelopment and change management (collectively the applicationdevelopment lifecycle) independent of the actual business problems thatthe application is intended to resolve. The inventors recognize thatthis divide can be sufficiently significant that the conventionalIT/development approaches themselves work against business agility bycreating rigid disconnected structures that are hard to govern, manage,and adapt as a whole system.

A software application created as described herein can be fullydynamic—with the developer and the end user both getting the samebenefits from a single unified environment. In an embodiment, theapplication is built in a manner in which the developer does not need tobuild/compile any of the application components that define the model(s)of the application, which can enable real-time simulation and deploymentof the changed application (e.g., the changes can take effectimmediately). Without a compile/build requirement, application testingcan be made easier, thereby enabling refactoring or changing to bevastly accelerated because there does not need to be any separation ofruntime and design time (e.g., there does not need to be discontinuousactivities performed in separate environments).

In an embodiment, the application is defined by stateless looselycoupled immutable resources (e.g., a set of models) using a declarativemodel-driven application development environment. In this case, anupdate to the application can simply require modification of relatedresources at which point the update can take effect immediately, withoutrequiring any development intervention. All users, both those developingand those utilizing the models, can benefit from new operationalresponsiveness. In addition, since everything can be dynamic,development activity ‘rights’ can be delegated to any user who may thenmodify the application at will based on permissions and any requiredapproval processes as directed by resources (e.g., one or more models inthe set of models) of the application. The declarative model-drivenapplication development environment can enable design, configuration,modification and extension of a real time software application(collectively “development activities”), wherein the late-binding of thereal-time software application can enable all users to potentiallyperform development activities using the declarative model-drivenapplication development environment, or components thereof, withoutdisrupting the environment or the application itself.

As indicated above, aspects of the invention provide a solutionproviding for the dynamic design, use, and modification of models usinga declarative software application meta-model that provides forself-modification of a collection of the models. The solution can enablecontinuous real-time testing, simulation, deployment, and modificationof the collection of the models. A model in the collection of the modelscan represent an entity or a function and can be included in a set ofrelated models. Additionally, a set of related models can include aplurality of sets of related models. The collection of the models canrepresent, for example, one or more software applications, processes,and/or the like. An embodiment of the solution described herein canexecute on a system of the inventors' prior solution.

In an embodiment, the collection of models represent a softwareapplication and there is no distinction between “design-time” and“run-time” for the software application. Instead, the softwareapplication processes all such activity in “real-time.” All feedbackfrom any user for any purpose, can be immediate in its effect, thoughthe processing of decisions by the application can be extended throughworkflows for other input and approvals, but all processing by theapplication is still performed in real-time with each interaction. Whilefurther aspects of the invention are described using an embodiment inwhich a collection of models represents a software application, it isunderstood that the collection of models, or a set of related modelsincluded therein, can represent any type of entity and/or function. Tothis extent, a model in the collection of models can represent adiscrete entity, a function, and/or the like. Furthermore, a set ofrelated models in the collection of models can represent a complexentity, a complex function, and/or the like. The collection of modelscan include multiple sets of related models, any one of which caninclude one or more sets of related models. The collection of models canrepresent a software application, a process, and/or the like, either ofwhich can be formed from multiple models representing various types offunctions and/or entities.

Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an illustrative environment 150for providing dynamic management (e.g., design, use, and modification)of model resources 134 using a declarative application meta-model thatprovides for self-modification according to an embodiment. In this case,the model resources 134 represent an application 130, which is executingin the environment 150 in order to perform an activity according to anembodiment. To this extent, the environment 150 includes a computersystem 152 that can perform a process described herein in order tomanage the model resources 134 representing the application 130 andother resources 136. In particular, the computer system 152 is shownincluding a modeling application 112, which makes the computer system152 operable to manage the model resources 134 and other resources 136as described herein.

The computer system 152 is shown including a processing component 154(e.g., one or more processors), a storage component 156 (e.g., a storagehierarchy), an input/output (I/O) component 158 (e.g., one or more I/Ointerfaces and/or devices), and a communications pathway 159. Ingeneral, the processing component 154 executes program code, such as asystem controller 122 of the modeling application 112 and/orrepresentations of one or more resources of the application 130, whichis at least partially fixed in the storage component 156. Whileexecuting program code, the processing component 154 can process data,which can result in reading and/or writing transformed data from/to thestorage component 156 and/or the I/O component 158 for furtherprocessing. The pathway 159 provides a communications link between eachof the components in the computer system 152. The I/O component 158 cancomprise one or more human I/O devices, which enable a human client 14to interact with the computer system 152 and/or one or morecommunications devices to enable a system client 14 to communicate withthe computer system 152 using any type of communications link. To thisextent, the computer system 152 can manage a set of interfaces (e.g.,graphical user interface(s), application program interface, and/or thelike) that enable human and/or system clients 14 to interact with theapplication 130 via the modeling application 112. Furthermore, themodeling application 112 can manage (e.g., store, retrieve, create,manipulate, organize, present, etc.) the data, such as one or more ofthe model resources 134 of the application 130 or other resources 136,using any data management solution.

In any event, the computer system 152 can comprise one or more generalpurpose computing articles of manufacture (e.g., computing devices)capable of executing program code, such as the system controller 122 ofthe modeling application 112, installed thereon. As used herein, it isunderstood that “program code” means any collection of instructions, inany language, code or notation, that cause a computing device having aninformation processing capability to perform a particular functioneither directly or after any combination of the following: (a)conversion to another language, code or notation; (b) reproduction in adifferent material form; and/or (c) decompression. To this extent, themodeling application 112 can be embodied as any combination of systemsoftware and/or application software.

As used herein, the term “component” means any configuration ofhardware, with or without software, which implements the functionalitydescribed in conjunction therewith using any solution. The term “module”means program code that enables a computer system 152 to implement thefunctionality described in conjunction therewith using any solution, andrefers to the system controller 122 and program artifacts of theresources of the application 130. When fixed in a storage component 156of a computer system 152 that includes a processing component 154, amodule is a substantial portion of a component that implements thefunctionality. Regardless, it is understood that two or more components,modules, and/or systems may share some/all of their respective hardwareand/or software. Furthermore, it is understood that some of thefunctionality discussed herein may not be implemented or additionalfunctionality may be included as part of the computer system 152.

When the computer system 152 comprises multiple computing devices, eachcomputing device can have only a portion of the modeling application 112and/or the application 130 fixed thereon (e.g., one or more resources ofthe application 130). However, it is understood that the computer system152 and the modeling application 112 are only representative of variouspossible equivalent computer systems that may perform a processdescribed herein. To this extent, in other embodiments, thefunctionality provided by the computer system 152 and the modelingapplication 112 can be at least partially implemented by one or morecomputing devices that include any combination of general and/orspecific purpose hardware with or without program code. In eachembodiment, the hardware and program code, if included, can be createdusing standard engineering and programming techniques, respectively.

Regardless, when the computer system 152 includes multiple computingdevices, the computing devices can communicate over any type ofcommunications link. Furthermore, while performing a process describedherein, the computer system 152 can communicate with one or more othercomputer systems using any type of communications link. In either case,the communications link can comprise any combination of various types ofwired and/or wireless links; comprise any combination of one or moretypes of networks; and/or utilize any combination of various types oftransmission techniques and protocols. In an embodiment, the computersystem 152 comprises an application server, which communicates withclients 14 over the Internet.

As discussed herein, the application 130 can be represented by modelresources 134. Additionally, the computer system 152, e.g., by executingthe modeling application 112, can provide dynamic design, use, andmodification of the model resources 134 representing the application 130using a declarative application meta-model that provides forself-modification. To this extent, the computer system 152 can enablecontinuous real-time testing, simulation, deployment, and modificationof the model resources 134 representing the application 130 as describedherein.

Execution of the application 130 can result in the generation of one ormore other resources 136. The other resources 136 can be utilized alongwith the model resources 134, to enable the computer system 152 toexecute a set of actions used by the application 130 to perform anactivity. One or more of the resources of the application 130 can beseparately developed and/or implemented remote from other portions ofthe application 130. For example, a set of utility resources 138 areshown implemented remote from the application 130. However, it isunderstood that any resources of the application 130, such as one ormore of the model resources 134, also can be separately developed and/orimplemented. Furthermore, it is understood that the environment 150 caninclude a mix of model resources 134 that are part of the application130 and remote from the application 130.

As described herein, a model resource 134 can represent an entity, afunction, and/or the like. The model resources 134 can include one ormore sets of related models, each of which can represent a complexentity, a complex function, and/or the like. A set of related models canbe expressed using a set of declarative relations, which can be definedusing any solution, and stored as model resources 134 of the application130 using any solution. For example, a declarative relation can bedefined using a uniform resource identifier (URI), a metadata reference,and/or the like.

In an embodiment, the environment 150 is a modeling environmentproviding dynamic design, use, and modification of the model resources134 of the application 130 using a declarative application meta-modelthat provides for self-modification and the client 14 is a user usingthe application 130 executing in the modeling environment to performcontinuous real-time testing, simulation, deployment, and/ormodification of the model resources 134 of the application 130. In thiscase, the activities that the user can perform using the application 130can include dynamically modifying one or more aspects of the softwareapplication 130 in the runtime environment. To this extent, FIG. 2 showsa block diagram of an illustrative conceptual architecture of anenvironment 250 of a software application 230 according to anembodiment. As illustrated, the software application 230, by beingprocessed by an intermediary component 220, can manage an applicationlayer 210, which enables a user 14 to use the software application 230to perform one or more activities, each of which is defined using a setof model resources 134 (FIG. 1) of the software application 230. Theapplication layer 210 includes both a development interface 216, whichenables the user 14 to use the application 230 to perform one or moredevelopment types of activities on the application 230, and an end userinterface 218, which enables the user 14 to use the application 230 toperform one or more end user types of activities.

As used herein, it is understood that the term “activity” means a set ofatomic operations to accomplish a goal (e.g., form a completebusiness/technical process). The goal is set when the activity isinitiated (e.g., when a request, such as an HTTP request, is receivedfrom a user 14), but the specific atomic operation(s) performed byexecuting the application 230 to accomplish the goal can vary based onthe context information corresponding to each instance of an activity towhich the software application 230 is directed. A group of relatedatomic operations (e.g., a compound operation) is referred to herein asa “task” (e.g., a process fragment). A task is a discrete fragment of anactivity that fulfills a defined objective in furtherance of the goal(e.g., complete a form, review a form, submit a form, modify a form,and/or the like). Similar to an activity, the objective of the task isset when the activity is initiated, but the specific atomic operation(s)performed by executing the application 230 to accomplish the goal canvary based on the context information corresponding to the activity. Itis understood that some atomic operations and/or tasks can be performedas standalone operations (e.g., report generation, basic navigation),apart from a larger task or activity. In this case, the atomic operationis a task and activity in itself or the task is an activity in itself.

An “end user activity” is a type of activity performed by the user 14using the application 230 in its intended manner to accomplish a goal.For example, if the application 230 manages an end user interface 218that provides a word processor user interface, the end user activitiesinclude those activities performed by the user 14 that utilize the wordprocessor to create a document. Furthermore, the end user activitiesinclude those activities performed by the user 14 that customize one ormore attributes of the word processor user interface according to thepreferences of the user 14, e.g., by modifying a setting exposed to theuser 14 (e.g., default attributes for the document), including a“plug-in” component to provide expanded functionality, and/or the like.In an embodiment, end user activities of the application 230 include oneor more development activities.

A “development activity” is an activity performed by the user 14 usingthe application 230, which changes one or more attributes of a set ofchangeable resources 222 of the application 230. The changeableresources 222 can include model resources 134 that define at least aportion of an application model, which is applied by the application 230to perform one or more activities. To this extent, a developmentactivity can comprise an activity historically performed by aprogrammer, a designer, and/or the like, in a software developmentenvironment. However, the development interface 216 managed by theapplication 230 can enable a user 14 to perform the development activityin the environment 250. The development interface 216 can manage anycombination of various types of development tools for use by the user14, such as a modeling environment (e.g., a declarative modelingenvironment), an integrated development environment, and/or the like. Inthis manner, the environment 250 can provide dynamic design, use, andmodification of the application 230 represented by a collection ofmodels (as embodied in the model resources 134) using a declarativeapplication meta-model that provides for self-modification, and canenable continuous real-time testing, simulation, deployment, andmodification of the application 230 represented by the collection ofmodels. In an embodiment, the changeable resources 222 of theapplication 230 are immutable (static). In this case, a change to achangeable resource 222 results in a new version of the changeableresource 222 being created, which is linked in place of the previousversion. The use of immutable resources can provide an ability for theapplication 230 to provide an auditable history of changes, rollback achange, and/or the like.

As illustrated, resources of the application 230 (or representationsthereof) can be processed by an intermediary component 220. Theresources can include a set of changeable resources 222 and a set ofstatic resources 226. A changeable resource 224 in the set of changeableresources 222 can comprise a resource that is capable of beingdynamically modified by the user 14. In an embodiment, a change to achangeable resource 222, such as a model resource 134, does not requireany compilation to take effect in the application 230. A static resource228 in the set of static resources 226 can comprise a resource that isnot capable of being dynamically modified by the user 14. In anembodiment, the set of changeable resources 222 includes a first subsetof the model resources 134 shown in FIG. 1, while the set of staticresources 226 includes a second subset of the model resources 134.However, it is understood that this is only illustrative, and anembodiment of the environment 250 can include no static resources 228,no changeable resources 224, and/or the like. Furthermore, while theconstruction service resource 132 (FIG. 1) and the system controller 122(FIG. 1) can be resources (e.g., as part of the intermediary component220), it is understood that these resources 132, 122 generally are notchangeable by the user 14 in the environment 250.

When the set of changeable resources 222 includes one or more modelresources 134 and/or relation information (e.g., declarative relations)for a set of related models, the user 14 can modify a configuration ofthe software application 230 while an instance of the softwareapplication 230 is executing by modifying a configuration of one or moreof the model resources 134 and/or relation information. Such amodification can result in an immediate modification to theconfiguration of the software application 230 (e.g., when the modelresources 134 and/or relation information are stored as non-compiledinformation). Additionally, the modification can have any applicablescope. For example, the modification can modify a configuration of aninstance of the modified changeable resource(s) 224 for the user 14, aconfiguration of the modified changeable resource(s) 224 for use in allsubsequent instances and/or of the changeable resource(s) 224, and/orthe like. In this manner, the software application 230 can support localvariance, global change, and/or the like, and can enable continuousreal-time testing, simulation, deployment, and modification of themodels and set(s) of related models representing the softwareapplication 230.

Each resource representing the software application 230 (e.g., eachmodel resource 134) can have a set of properties. To this extent, whenthe resource is a changeable resource 224, one or more properties of thechangeable resource 224 can be modified by the user 14 while thesoftware application 230 is executing. Furthermore, when a modelresource 134 is included in a set of related models, each model in theset of related models can be capable of configuring one or more of a setof properties of the set of related models. In this case, collectiveproperties of the set of related models (e.g., a complex entity, acomplex function, and/or the like) can emerge dynamically frominteraction of the set of related models, e.g., in real-time duringexecution of the software application 230. In this manner, the softwareapplication 230 can have a set of dynamically emergent properties, whichare inherited from the collective properties of the interaction of theset(s) of related models representing the software application 230.

An ability of a user 14 to modify one or more resources of the softwareapplication 230 can be provided by a set of models of modificationcontrols, which are included in the model resources 134 of the softwareapplication 230. To this extent, the user 14 can be restricted frommodifying a static resource 228 in the set of static resources 226and/or allowed be make modifications to a changeable resource 224 in theset of changeable resources 222 based on the set of models ofmodification controls. The set of models of modification controls canenable the user 14 to make modifications of any scope (e.g., localvariance, global change, and/or the like) to a changeable resource 224.It is understood that the set of models of modification controls canenable/disable an ability to modify one or more resources differentlyfor multiple users. To this extent, whether a resource of the softwareapplication 230 is a changeable resource 224 or a static resource 228can depend on the user 14. Furthermore, the set of models ofmodification controls can be resources (e.g., model resources 134) ofthe software application 230, and themselves can be changeable resources224 for one or more users 14 of the software application 230. In thiscase, any restrictions on an ability of a user 14 to modify a resourceis not an inherent limitation of the software application 230, butrather is a purposeful limitation based on the goals of the softwareapplication 230, which can be modified.

The intermediary component 220 can be configured to process eachinteraction request made by the user 14 as part of an activity(development or end user). In a more particular embodiment, theintermediary component 220 is a generic component, which can be used toexecute multiple applications 230 configured to perform activities ofany type. The model resources 134 of the software application 230 candefine the logic of how the software application 230 performs eachactivity. To this extent, the intermediary component 220 can operate ina context-independent manner without including or relying on anyrun-time logic or data specific to the particular application 230 (e.g.,the activities performed using the application) on which theintermediary component 220 is operating. In this case, such logic and/ordata of the application 230 are defined within the set of changeableresources 222 and/or a set of static resources 226.

In a more particular illustrative embodiment, the intermediary component220 comprises the system controller 122 (FIG. 1) and the constructionservice 132 (FIG. 1). In this case, the system controller 122 canreceive each request generated by a user 14 and perform pre-processingof the request. As part of processing the request, the system controller122 can instantiate a container for processing the request, and requesta representation of the construction service resource 132 for executionin the container. The construction service resource 132 can furtherprocess the request within the container. To this extent, for everyatomic operation performed by the application 230, an instance orrepresentation of the same system controller 122 and constructionservice resource 132 can be used to process the request. The processingof each atomic operation by the construction service resource 132 caninclude obtaining an instance of a resource identified in the request,such as a changeable resource 224 or a static resource 228, andprocessing the logic included in the instance of the resource.

By obtaining, in response to receiving a request, an instance of aresource identified in the request, and instances of any other resourcesrequired to complete the request, the intermediary component 220 bindsthe resource(s) of the application 230 in real-time to dynamicallyconstruct an implementation of the resource. The intermediary component220 can bind the resource in real-time for every interaction with theresource (e.g., each request requiring the resource). To this extent,any model resource(s) 134 required to complete the request bind inreal-time when processing the request. When the application 230 includesa set of models of modification controls, these models also can bind inreal-time. As a result, the application 230 can support customization,personalization, machine-learning (e.g., automated change management),and/or the like.

The application 230 logic can be defined by the application resources222, 226 (e.g., assets such as models, code, data, policies, and/or thelike). In an embodiment, each of the application resources 222, 226 isstateless. That is, each execution of an application resource 222, 226is performed using resources obtained during the execution. Theexecution can be in the form of processing representations of theresources, consistent with REST constraints (e.g., stateless ‘read’ ofthe system resources) and any state changes can be managed by creatingnew resource(s) consistent with the principles of immutability (e.g., astateless ‘write’ of a new resource back to the system), therebyproviding an overall ‘stateless’ property for the system. By processingrepresentations of the resources, a resource (e.g., model) is separatedfrom implementation and the execution can perform non-blocking reads andwrites while managing contention. The logic can be defined in a mannerthat preserves a loose-coupling between the stateless applicationresources 222, 226, e.g., by associating the resources 222, 226 with oneanother using a set of declarative relations for a model resource 134.The association can be made directly, e.g., with explicit identifiers(e.g. Universal Resource Identifiers or URIs or ‘links’) and/orindirectly, e.g., with metadata references that can be resolved by theintermediary component 220 at run-time based on a context for thecorresponding request and/or activity. Furthermore, the logic can bestored in a manner that does not require compilation to effect anychanges. In this manner, a change to the application logic (e.g., one ormore model resources 134) can be made immediately available.

By enabling the application 230, and the system as a whole, to bedefined in a loosely-coupled fashion, the application 230 can provide adynamic software application framework having many desirable properties(e.g., reflection; under-specification; late-binding; lazy evaluation),and can promote many advantages related to operational responsiveness(e.g., dynamic payload customization based on context and more efficientapplication development and change management capabilities) anddevelopment productivity (e.g., optimal re-use of resources, moreefficient application development and change management capabilities).

During execution of the application 230, the intermediary component 220can receive interaction requests generated by the user 14. Aninteraction request can request that the application 230 perform acorresponding activity, and can include a reference to one or more ofthe resources. In response, the intermediary component 220 candynamically configure each atomic operation for the activity based onits context, and dynamically determine a process flow for performing theactivity based on the activity context at the conclusion of each atomicoperation, for the entire lifecycle of the activity. The atomicoperation of the framework for the application 230 can be an individualsystem interaction that is performed by the intermediary component 220by calling a single resource, e.g., a model resource 134. In this case,the intermediary component 220 comprises an agent acting between theuser 14 requesting an atomic operation and the resource(s) 222, 226configured to perform the atomic operation per the related model. Theintermediary component 220 provides a mechanism for evaluating therequest relative to activity context, customizing the deliverable(payload) for each atomic operation and directing the user 14 to thenext valid interaction(s) for continuing to perform the activity basedon use of context information in support of the activity. In thismanner, the intermediary component 220 mediates interactions between theuser 14 and a group of loosely-coupled resources 222, 226 to enable theuser 14 to perform an activity using the application 230 per the relatedmodels in the resources 222, 226.

As described herein, the activity can be an end user activity or adevelopment activity. To this extent, FIG. 3 shows an illustrativeprocess for processing a user request, which can be implemented by thecomputer system 152 (FIG. 1) executing the application 230 (FIG. 2),according to an embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in action 302,the intermediary component 220 receives an interaction request from auser 14. As discussed herein, each interaction request can include anidentifier corresponding to a model resource (e.g., a changeableresource 224 or a static resource 228) for processing the interactionrequest. In action 304, the intermediary component 220 can obtainrepresentation(s) of the requested resource(s) using the correspondingidentifier(s) and can obtain representation(s) of other relevantresources, if any, in order to process the request. The other relevantresources can include resources referenced by the requested resource(s),resources defining policies of the application 230, resources defining acontext of the request or a corresponding activity, and/or the like. Thepolicies can include modification controls, which can identify theactivities that the user 14 is allowed to perform using the application230.

In action 306, the intermediary component 220 can evaluate the contextof the request and the type of user 14 (e.g., the privileges of theuser) in order to construct the deliverable. For example, theintermediary component 220 can process representation(s) of the otherrelevant resource(s) in order to determine the context and/or the typeof the user 14. Based on the context of the request (e.g., the requestedaction, previous requested actions, the type of the user 14, and/or thelike), the intermediary component 220 can construct a deliverable, whichincludes data and/or options for the user 14. To this extent, theintermediary component 220 can construct and provide, in response to arequest, deliverables that differ from one another based on the contextof the request (the type of the user 14, corresponding activity, and/orthe like) per the related model(s) in the resources 222, 226.

In an illustrative embodiment, the intermediary component 220 canevaluate the user 14 type and/or the context of the request as one of adeveloper, a designer, or an end user. When the intermediary component220 evaluates the user 14 as a developer, in action 308, theintermediary component 220 can construct a developer deliverable using aset of resources of the application 230. The developer deliverable caninclude data and/or one or more next activities which enable the user 14to perform one or more development activities (e.g., view/edit/add achangeable resource 224 in the set of changeable resources 222) on theapplication 230. Similarly, when the intermediary component 220evaluates the user 14 as a designer, in action 310, the intermediarycomponent 220 can construct a designer deliverable using a set ofresources of the application 230. The designer deliverable can includedata and/or one or more next activities which enable the user 14 toperform one or more design activities (e.g., view/edit/modify one ormore resource connections declaratively defined in the set of changeableresources 224) on the application 230. Additionally, when theintermediary component 220 evaluates the user 14 as an end user, inaction 312, the intermediary component 220 can construct an end userdeliverable using a set of resources of the application 230. The enduser deliverable can include data and/or one or more next activitieswhich enable the user 14 to perform one or more end user activities.

Regardless, in process 314, the intermediary component 220 can providethe deliverable for use by the user 14. For example, the deliverable cancomprise a graphical user interface presented to the user 14 in responseto the interaction request. While the development interface 216 is shownseparately from the end user interface 218, it is understood that adeliverable can enable the user 14 to request both one or moredevelopment activities as well as one or more end user activities. Forexample, each of the developer and design deliverables can enable theuser 14 to perform one or more end user actions. Similarly, an end userdeliverable can enable the user 14 to request/perform one or moredevelopment activities on the application 230. Furthermore, it isunderstood that the intermediary component 220 can continually evaluatethe type of user 14 as the user 14 utilizes the application 230 and thecorresponding context changes. For example, a user 14 having developerprivileges may be evaluated by the intermediary component 220 as an enduser due to a context created by previous interactions of the user 14with the application 230.

In an embodiment, the development interface 216 provides a declarativemodeling environment interface for the user 14. In this case, theenvironment 250 can enable the user 14 (e.g., a designer) to generateand/or modify a dynamic, context-enhanced, software application 230,which is defined declaratively, using model resources 134 (FIG. 1),without requiring the user 14 to have the skill set of a softwaredeveloper to write explicit ‘hard-coded’ connections to discrete assetsas is the case with conventional programming. The development interface216 can provide an abstraction, hiding the actual underlying integrationcomplexity, and providing a software development framework capable ofdynamically identifying, retrieving, connecting, and transformingdiscrete components based on atomic-operation context. For example, thedevelopment interface 216 can enable the user 14 to generate and/ormodify a set of related models using a set of declarative relations. Incontrast to SOA/BPEL approaches, where processes are static rather thandynamic constructions (e.g., “mash-ups”), the development interface 216can enable bindings to be prescribed declaratively rather thanprocedurally, and components can be open resources (e.g., modifiable)rather than closed services. While the environment 250 is shownincluding an application 230, which manages an application layer 210with an integrated development interface 216, it is understood that thedevelopment interface 216 can be managed separately from the application230 within a computing environment.

In an embodiment, the application 230 can comprise an application fordesigning models (e.g., a meta-meta model or a model for modelingmodels). In a more particular embodiment, the application 230 comprisesan application for modeling other software applications or processes,which also can be executed by the intermediary component 220. In thiscase, the application 230 can include model resources 134 (FIG. 1)specifically for the purpose of designing models for governancepolicies, application logic, business entities, business processes,service interface, system connections, and/or the like. Furthermore, theapplication 230 can automatically embed one or more model resources 134into a new meta-model for the software application or process, which canrepresent one or more system-wide capabilities, e.g., in order tostandardize system controls such as system security, state management,machine tagging and indexing, configuration controls, and/or the like. Auser 14 of the application 230 also can embed one or more models intothe new meta-model, e.g., in order to standardize governance such assecurity policies, version control, enterprise search, and/or the like.In an embodiment, one or more of the model resources 134 of the softwareapplication or process can support an activity relating to a systemcontrol for configuring one or more models of the meta-model for thesoftware application or process during its use. As a result, themeta-model can be declaratively modified by a user of the softwareapplication or process in real-time without disruption to the instanceof the software application or process or its meta-model, or the systemas a whole (e.g., no programming, code-compiling, code-build,deployment, or the like).

FIG. 4 shows an illustrative flow diagram of interactions of users 14A,14B with a collection of model resources 430 according to an embodiment.In action 402, a user 14A can interact with models of a declarativemodeling environment interface (e.g., the development interface 216 ofFIG. 2) and develop one or more models 404. The models 404 can be storedas model resource(s) 434 of the collection of model resources 430.Furthermore, in action 410, a user 14B can interact with the collectionof model resources 434, which result from the declarative modelingenvironment interface, to utilize one or more of the model(s) in action412. The utilization of model(s) can result in the generation of otherresources 436. Additionally, the user 14B can modify one or more of themodel(s) in action 414, which can result in one or more of the modelresources 434 in the collection of model resources 430 being modified.During a subsequent interaction (by the user 14B and/or other users)with the collection of model resources 430, the modified modelresource(s) 434 can be provided for use.

While FIG. 4 shows two users 14A, 14B for clarity, it is understood thatthe same individual could interact with models of a declarative modelingenvironment interface as well as interact with models resulting from thedeclarative modeling environment interface. Similarly, it is understoodthat the users shown and discussed in conjunction with FIGS. 2-4 cancomprise human users or system users. To this extent, the developmentand end user interfaces described herein can be configured to supporthuman interaction (e.g., through the generation of and interaction withgraphical user interfaces) and/or system interaction (e.g., through themanagement of an application programming interface (API), or the like).

As shown and described herein in conjunction with FIG. 2, a developmentinterface 216 can work with a web-style repository where all systemartifacts (e.g., data; code; policies, as well as adaptors tothird-party services, systems and devices) are stored as loosely-coupledresources (e.g., dynamic, static, development, runtime, and/or thelike). The coupling of the resources is defined via the models describedherein. In web-style architectural terms (e.g., Representational StateTransfer or “REST”), resources are any information, regardless of mediatype, addressable by a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI). In this case,an application, such as an application described herein, can be acollection of loosely-coupled stateless resources that bind dynamicallyat run-time through the model(s); they are not “hard-coded.” Bypreserving the loose-coupling of the resources, the developmentinterface 216 can enable the development of a software application, andan overall system, having advantageous properties in regards tocontextualization and adaptation.

FIG. 5 shows an illustrative conceptual architecture of the varioustypes of application components according to an embodiment. Asillustrated, the components can include two classes of components, thosecomponents that are utilized in processing a request (e.g., performingan activity) and those components that are utilized to store data. Theprocessing components can include various types of components including,for example: run-time resources (e.g., agents, containers); protocols(e.g., goals); meta-resources (e.g., applications (activities),entities, capabilities, processes); indexes (e.g., metadata tags),persistence (e.g., object/relational mapping); and/or the like.Similarly, the storage components can include various types ofcomponents including, for example: database (e.g., a relational databasemanagement system (RDBMS)); database structure (e.g., a web-stylekey-value defining links and resources); local storage (e.g., data andcode); federated storage (e.g., services/application program interfaces(APIs)); and/or the like.

FIG. 6 shows an illustrative conceptual diagram of an application 630according to an embodiment. As illustrated, the application 630 canprovide an intermediary between any of a plurality of types of targets614 and any of a plurality of types of sources 640 for any specifiedworkload. The application 630 can include resources, such as one or moremodel resources 134 (FIG. 1), which implement security and governancefor the interactions between a target 614 and a source 640. Additionalresources (e.g., model resources 134) can implement version control,lifecycle management, enterprise search, and/or the like. In thismanner, the application 630 can construct its own components inreal-time in support of interactions, thereby enabling these componentsto be modified, configured, extended, and/or the like. Furthermore, theintermediary can include a modeling interface 616, which enables atarget 614 to modify one or more of the sources 640 and/or one or moremodel resources 134, which define the interaction between the targets614 and the sources 640 (e.g., metadata, connections, and/or the like).

FIG. 7 shows an illustrative conceptual diagram of an information space700 for an application, such as the application 130 (FIG. 1), accordingto an embodiment. As illustrated, various types of resources (data andcode), such as a capability 730A, information 730B, a rule 730C, aperson 730D, and/or the like, can be interconnected by a set of links,which also are resources of the application. Furthermore, theinformation space 700 can include indexed content resources, whichcomprise metadata for the various types of resources and links. For eachresource, the information space 700 also can include a change history,thereby making the information space 700 a hyper-relational informationspace. By automatically indexing all new and changed resources, theapplication can continuously create new semantic pathways for search,sort, filter, and/or like, for clients and the intermediary component.In this way, the application can maintain the environment it uses andpromote its ability to evolve (e.g., change).

FIG. 8 shows an illustrative processing cycle 800 of an event, which canbe implemented by an application, such as the application 230 (FIG. 2),described herein, according to an embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 2 and8, initially, an event occurs, such as a request is generated by a humanor system client, a scheduled event is triggered, and/or the like. Anagent, e.g., the intermediary component 220, is called to process theevent. The agent interprets a model for the event using representationsof various resources associated with the event, including one or moremodel resources of the application 230. The agent uses the model toevaluate links, metadata, and/or the like, to identify all the relevantresources of the application 230. The agent processes the event usingrepresentations of all the relevant resources. The processing caninclude performing a mash-up of various concerns, performing real-timesemantic application integration, run-time interaction with acontainer/cache, and/or the like. The agent ends the processing byproviding a custom deliverable, such as an interface or other type ofpayload to the source of the event, and updates database(s) with detailson the processing (e.g., ACID transaction). In this manner, the agentcan process each event in a manner that ensures a targeted responsebased on the context of the event.

Returning to FIG. 1, as described herein, logic for an application, suchas the application 230, can be defined within the resources 222, 226 ofthe application 230. In an embodiment, the application 230 uniformlymanages all end user data and executable data (program code) as looselycoupled resources 222, 226 using a set of models included in theresources 222, 226. The loose coupling can be defined by a set ofdeclarative relations (e.g., links), each of which includes a uniqueidentifier and a reference to at least one resource 224, 228, therebycreating an undirected graph (e.g., a sparse matrix). The application230 can store the declarative relations, for example, as key-value pairsin a relational database. Furthermore, the application 230 can storedata corresponding to each transaction with the application 230 (e.g.,an interaction) in the relational database, e.g., as in an ACIDtransaction.

In an embodiment, when a user 14 performs an activity that updates achangeable resource 224 of the application 230, the application 230creates a new resource 224, while maintaining the previous version ofthe changeable resource 224. Additionally, the application 230 canimplement each activity as a set of loosely-coupled tasks, each of whichis executed as an asynchronous ACID transaction. In this manner, theapplication 230 can support global version control, generation of anaudit trail, roll back of all transactions (end user and development),referential integrity (e.g., trace), statelessness (scalability), and/orthe like.

In an embodiment, each resource 224, 228 of the application 230 is anentity, which can be discrete or complex, or a function, which can becomplex. An “entity resource” can comprise a data resource, whichdefines any object relevant to an activity performed using theapplication 230. An entity resource can be a model (e.g., ameta-resource), which includes one or more relationships to otherresources of the application 230. The other resources can include, forexample, any combination of: another model; an atomic resource; awork-order resource (which is a type of underspecified meta-resource);and/or the like. A “function resource” can comprise executable data, andalso can include a relationship to one or more other resources (acomplex function resource). In either case, the development interface216 can enable a user 14 to edit/modify/create an entity or a functionresource using links, metadata, and/or the like, with a declarativemodeling solution. As described herein, these links, metadata, and/orthe like, can be interpreted at run-time, e.g., by the intermediarycomponent 220. Furthermore, a resource can inherit one or moreproperties or behavior from a relationship with another resource. Forexample, a person resource can be related to a system administratorsresource, which defines one or more requirements applied to the personresource as a result of the relationship. Subsequently, the intermediarycomponent 220 can use a change request process defined in the systemadministrators resource, e.g., in response to a state change request bythe person associated with the person entity resource. Defining theapplication 230 using these resources enables a non-disruptive evolutionof complex objects and entities based on the corresponding newrelationships and modified resources, thereby enabling development of anapplication 230, which is flexible, adaptable, and/or scalable.

An application 230 created using the resources 222, 226 can include orbe processed by an intermediary component 220, which processesrepresentations of the resources 222, 226 to manage an interface layer210. For example, the intermediary component 220 can interpret a forestgraph defined by the resources 222, 226 during execution to generate acustomized deliverable in response to each request. In an embodiment,the intermediary component 220 utilizes a query model to interpret thegraph using, for example, sparse matrix processing of the system methodto dynamically generate and project a schema for the resources 222, 226during the processing of an interaction request. The intermediarycomponent 220 can comprise a goal-oriented reactive agent, whichimplements a generic and extensible algorithm, independent of theparticular activities performed using the application 230, by evaluatingand processing representations of the resources 222, 226 in response touser interactions. The intermediary component 220 can perform complexruntime query, transformation, and orchestration, and can handle allconnection complexity in real time. Each activity performed using theapplication 230 can be implemented as a series of stateless,asynchronous transactions, which are performed by the intermediarycomponent 220 and defined in the set of resources 222, 226.

In an embodiment, the intermediary component 220 uses a semantic queryand transformation algorithm (e.g., a work order) to recursivelyretrieve and transform a set of resources 222, 226 to: evaluateinteraction context; construct a custom response (deliverable); andrecommend next-best-action(s) to the user 14. The intermediary component220 can use a goal-seeking reflective strategy, which itself can be amodel, to evaluate the interaction context and use a form of a dynamicpipe-and-filter to rapidly build an interaction-specific network ofresources 222, 226. The intermediary component 220 can process thepipe-and-filter to create a set of custom deliverables based on theinteraction context. In this manner, the intermediary component 220configures the set of resources 222, 226 to process each interaction.

As illustrated, the application 230 can be defined such that the ‘what’(as defined by the set of resources 222, 226) is separate from the ‘how’(as implemented by the intermediary component 220). To this extent, theentire application 230 can be defined as a “plan” as the term is used incomputer science using a set of models as described herein. Defining theapplication 230 in such a manner enables a high degree ofinteroperability and adaptability to be included in the application 230.For example, by utilizing late-binding/lazy evaluation, the application230 can improve consideration of context throughout an activity (e.g.,evaluation of the next actions, construction of deliverables, and/or thelike). The use of strong ‘late’ typing enables the intermediarycomponent 220 to construct an interaction-specific ontology in which allschemas are projections defined in the set of resources 222, 226 and thedeliverable (e.g., a user interface) is derived in response to eachrequest. A unified design for defining multiple applications 230promotes a high degree of data and/or code re-use during the developmentof these applications 230. Furthermore, additional benefits, such assystem-wide security, governance, version control, and/or the like, canbe readily implemented in each application 230 since the resources 222,226 can construct these in a similar manner.

Additionally, the application 230 can implement storage in a manner thatprovides additional benefits to the development and maintenance of theapplication 230. For example, a data storage architecture for the set ofresources 222, 226 can be schema-less and utilize generic and extensiblestorage. Logical data storage can be separated from physical storage tomake application development and maintenance easier, e.g., distributedresources can be virtualized, connection/transformation complexity canbe hidden, and/or the like. By treating application data and codeuniformly (e.g., both are resources 222, 226 of the application 230),system-wide properties of the application 230 can be supported. Use of aschema-less storage design can optimize the analytics performed by theintermediary component 220. Furthermore, loose coupling between theresources 222, 226 separates concerns in the development and maintenanceof the resources 222, 226 of the application 230.

As described herein, regardless of the role of a particular user 14(e.g., end user, designer, developer, and/or the like), each interactionof the user 14 with the application 230 can be mediated by theintermediary component 220 (acting as an agent). To this extent, eachtype of user 14 has an ability to create, read, update, or deleteresources 222, 226 through interactions with the application 230, whichthe application 230 processes using a set of work order resources thateffectively determine the form of the operations (create, read, update,delete). In this manner, each type of user 14 experiences theapplication 230 in the same way. The operations capable of beingperformed by any particular user 14 on any particular resource 222, 226can be enforced through a set of modification control resources definedin the resources 222, 226. Each interaction of a user 14 with theapplication 230 can be persisted, e.g., as in an ACID databasetransaction.

Using a development interface 216 described herein, an application 230can be developed and managed with policies (e.g., system management;enterprise governance; domain logic; business rules; and/or the like)that are loosely-coupled from program code and data. This allows thepolicies to be mixed-in based on context for improved (e.g., optimal)policy precision. Furthermore, this allows programmers to develop codeextensions without worrying about pre-defining an interface to theapplication 230. Programmers can leave integration of the extension tonon-technical business personnel (e.g., designers), who can use thedevelopment interface 216 to parameterize the code declaratively withrelevant policies. Non-technical business personnel can in turn, whereappropriate, pass controls on to the end users of the application 230,allowing the users 14 to flexibly adapt their experience tocircumstances. This separation of concerns can promote re-use ofdevelopment assets by delegating control to the entity (e.g., thepurchaser or end user), which can now develop and evolve the application230 according to the requirements of the entity, independent ofinformation technology personnel or the software developer. In addition,the flexible re-use of existing code can reduce application testingdemands for the application 230 versus applications created using priorapproaches.

In an illustrative process, software developers (e.g., a developer user14) can add code files as resources 222, 226 to a web-style repository(e.g., JavaScript functions, RESTful endpoints, etc.) of the application230 using the development interface 216. Additionally, using thedevelopment interface 216, a non-technical user (e.g., a designer user14) can model data (e.g., business entities, reference data) andpolicies, which become additional resources 222, 226 in the web-stylerepository. The same or other non-technical user 14 also can use thedevelopment interface 216 to model the application 230, e.g., bydeclaratively associating data, code and policies directly with explicitidentifiers (e.g., Uniform Resource Identifiers or URIs or ‘links’) orindirectly, with metadata references that are resolved by theintermediary component 220 at run-time based on activity context.

As a result, the development interface 216 can allow non-technicalpersonnel to seamlessly declaratively relate distributed andheterogeneous resources 222, 226 using a modeling approach, withoutworrying about source, format or connection details. The user 14 can usethe development interface 216 to configure the relations and resources222, 226 independent of traditional software development (e.g., writingprogram code). The development interface 216 can enable the user 14 todefine one or more relations, which are evaluated using a metadata querythat binds at runtime. Such a query can enable the user 14 to defercompletion of the application definition until runtime, when themetadata reference(s) can be resolved for individual interactions,thereby allowing each interaction to be personalized/customized (e.g.,interaction-specific variance), and the application definition to beautomatically changed based on activity.

Furthermore, the development interface 216 can comprise an interface,for use by a developer (designer) 14, which includes a searchable,filterable sortable, and/or the like, directory of all of the resources222, 226 to facilitate navigation and/or reuse of the resources 222, 226in the application 230 by the developer user 14. In this manner, thedevelopment interface 216 can promote re-usability of the resources 222,226 by making it easy for a user 14 to: relate existing resources 222,226 (e.g., by defining and/or modifying a set of models); embed metadataqueries that bind in real time; create/add resources 222, 226 that are“well formed” for subsequent re-use; and/or the like.

The development interface 216 can support highly-interactiveuser-experiences as described herein. For example, instead of followinga rigid, predetermined flowchart, a process performed using theapplication 230 can adapt to circumstances and a workflow performedusing the application 230 can be as flexible as possible or asprocedural as necessary. Such support can improve an ability of theapplication 230 to respond to changes in an environment, such as adynamic business environment, thereby improving business agility andsustainability of the application 230. The development interface 216 canenable development of an application 230 that provides flexibility atthe edges of an entity, e.g., where the entity interfaces with itscustomers, staff, and/or partners.

In an embodiment, modeling an application 230 using the developmentinterface 216 involves developing a set of tasks (e.g., by developingmodels), wherein each task is a resource 222, 226 for an atomicoperation performed using the application 230. Each task can be ageneric policy-based template that is designed to leverage interactioncontext. When building an application 230 using the developmentinterface 216, sets of tasks can be individually configured and linkedtogether by policies for pre- and post-conditions (e.g., what atomicoperation(s) can follow next). This allows the specific content and flowof each running activity of the application 230 to be directed by itsbusiness context—in other words, context is able to influence the natureand sequence of the actual work conducted.

When developing tasks of the application 230 using the developmentinterface 216, non-technical personnel can add restrictive policies(e.g., modification controls) to the set of resources 222, 226 in orderto limit choices of the users 14, e.g., for compliance purposes, or canadd looser policies to the set of resources 222, 226 in order to extendgreater control to the business users. In this way, processes performedusing the application 230 are as flexible as possible and as proceduralas necessary, task-by-task, without requiring technology-switching,which is required when using a procedural process of prior artapplications.

Using the development interface 216, processes for the application 230can be loosely defined by the developer user 14. Tasks performed usingthe application 230 can be uncoupled from rigid flowcharts orstate-transition diagrams, and instead can be combined dynamically bythe intermediary component 220 (e.g., in response to an interactionrequest) based on rules included in the end user resources 222, 226,allowing the order of events to align dynamically with each case'srequirements. This enables the application 230 to perform adaptiveprocesses that unfold without fixed assumptions on the timing, sequenceor frequency of actions or events. The result can be asituationally-aware application 230, which can recommend or directactions to the user 14, can direct strict compliance, or can empowerprocess-participants to adapt processes in-flight so they can co-createtheir experience, all based on applicable policies defined in theresources 222, 226.

The development interface 216 can be used by a developer user 14 todevelop and/or maintain the application 230, which can be utilized forcomplex human workflows that are subject to routine variance and change,and can benefit from dynamic decision support (e.g., research &development; patient management; financial services; investigation-work;emergency response; project management; etc.). The development interface216 also can be used for instrumenting a network and sensor monitoringapplication 230 for the “Internet of Things” (e.g., automatic serverprovisioning; energy/utility management; remote product monitoring;etc.). The development interface 216 can provide an effective tool forimplementing and maintaining these adaptive and personalizedapplications 230, and an effective tool through which evolution of thesetypes of applications 230 can be facilitated.

The development interface 216 also can include/provide access to a setof libraries of preexisting capabilities that are available for reuseand extension by both software developers and nontechnical personnel(e.g., a set of utility resources 138 shown in FIG. 1). The developeruser 14 can add one or more resources 222, 226 to the application 230,which reference one or more of the resources 138, thereby making theresource 138 accessible during execution of the application 230. Sincethese preexisting capabilities are simply other code resources, or setsof resources, without pre-defined interfaces constraining their use,they also can be adapted to context by the intermediary component 220while executing the application 230. These resources 138 represent“Adaptive APIs” that provide generalized functions that can bedeclaratively parameterized using the development interface 216. Bydecoupling design from implementation, these Adaptive APIs can afford adeveloper user 14 the power of meta-programming without having to manageor even understand the low-level implementation details.

An Adaptive API library can include rich system application levelconcepts that can be declaratively configured by the developer user 14for related but distinct purposes in various applications 230,including: portal; enterprise search; work lists; dashboards; dynamicforms; adaptive process; document management; interactive reports;meeting management; document generation; etc. In addition, the AdaptiveAPI library can include APIs for enabling the developer user 14 to makea relative reference at design-time to any ‘subject’ or to use any modelthat is resolved by the intermediary component 220 at run-time,including:

-   Data: entities (e.g., people; locations; departments; etc.);    metadata; reference data; etc.-   Capabilities: functions; services; systems; devices; etc.-   Policies: business rules; style sheets; etc.

Development of an application 230 using the development interface 216can enable one or more of the following advantages to be present in theapplication 230:

Security Security policies (HTTPS; LDAP; SAML; encryption; etc.) can bemixed-in at run-time Version/Source Control All resources (data; code;policies; third party adaptors) at all levels (system; enterprise;application) can be automatically version-controlled with detailed audithistory and rollback capability Governance Any cross-cutting concern orcapability can be mixed-in at run-time based on context Business LogicPolicies can be loosely-coupled from code and data so business logic canbe mixed-in based on context for optimal business relevance and policyprecision Enterprise Search System-wide indexing, tagging, metadatamanagement can provide enterprise search across all resources -everything (apps; cases/processes; data; code; policies; third-partyadaptors) Reliable Transactions ACID semantics can be applieduniversally for reliable code and data with distributed, stateless andasynchronous transactions to provide near linear-scalability acrossheterogeneous environment Integration/Transformation Heterogeneous data,services, systems, devices and languages can be transformed on demandabstracting all location, connection and media-type complexity, alsoapplies to polyform persistence and user interface Virtual Objects Cancode independent extensions without worrying about pre-defining aninterface, can decouple code from domain logic and data source and addto a rich library of Virtual Objects (Adaptive APIs) - transformationsand controls applied at run-time User Interface Can code once for anytarget (device; browser; DOM), user interface can be dynamicallygenerated based on interaction policies, including style and behaviorAdaptive Process Processes can be a series of stateless interactionswhere user interface is derived based on context and system manages datastate through application lifecycle Change and Lifecycle Changes tosystem resources (apps; data; code; policies; Management third-partyadaptors) can be subject to policy-driven processes for approvals(including dynamic dependency maps) complimenting a system-wide versioncontrol for complete lifecycle management Co-evolution Resource versionscan be part of context so app designer can use policies to ‘follow’ aspecific version of a resource or the ‘current’ version of a resource,enabling applications to seamlessly co-evolve with their constituentparts Simulation(and/or Testing) Development environment can use ashared run-time so simulation (and/or testing) is a function ofapplication status Enterprise Multi-tenancy Enterprise can leveragemulti-tenancy for internal benefit using access policies to drivephysical and virtual partitioning

The development interface 216 can support standards-based development(e.g., JavaScript; XML; XSLT; HTML/HTML5; etc.) and can be designed forintegration with third party services, systems and devices. As a result,an application 230 can be extended by social (e.g., LinkedIn; Twitter;Facebook; etc.), mobile (e.g., iPhone; Android; etc.), cloud (e.g.,Salesforce.com; SuccessFactors; etc.), open source (e.g., Pentahoreporting; JBoss rules; etc.), methods (e.g., MapReduce; Open Source R;etc.), and/or the like, resources. In all cases, the developmentinterface 216 can enable the developer user 14 to connect to a resourceonce, and use the resource many times.

In an embodiment, the development interface 216 is managed by aweb-based run-time development application that runs alongside thebusiness application(s) that were created with it. Alternatively, asshown and described in conjunction with FIG. 2, the developmentinterface 216 can be part of an application layer 210 managed by anapplication 230. Either configuration removes a longstanding IT dividebetween design and execution environments.

In either case, with the development interface 216, all the users 14involved in building, testing, and maintenance of application(s) 230 canwork in the same ‘space’ at the same time as other users 14 (e.g.,business users) that use the application(s) 230—they are all just userswith different roles and different rights with respect to the creation,modification, deletion, and/or the like, of the resources 222, 226 ofthe application(s) 230. A shared environment 250 including thedevelopment interface 216 and the application(s) 230 can support a newform of enterprise collaboration—real-time change management—enabling anexponential increase in development productivity and operationalresponsiveness.

Historically, change management has been disconnected from the frontline business operations. Frequently, business matters wait at the endof long queues for committees to prioritize items and delegate resourcesfar removed from the point of need. This gap imposes a “tax” onenterprise agility and leads frustrated users to create shadow systems,compounding change management challenges in a self-reinforcing negativeloop.

In an embodiment, a developer user 14 uses the development interface 216to define models using declarative relationships between variousresources 222, 226 in order to completely define a software application230 at the application layer (e.g., all business activities to beperformed by the software application 230) with no compiled program codeand without requiring the use of third-party middleware (unless toimplement a specifically desired integration for a business purpose). Inthis case, the only differences between unreleased code and productioncode for the software application 230 are status and permissions. Thismeans that code, policy and data model changes to the softwareapplication 230 can be requested in-flight using the developmentinterface 216. The ‘owners’ of the respective application 230 canvalidate requests, make and/or approve the change, or escalate to anofficial or a committee using the development interface 216. Thedevelopment interface 216 can facilitate review by providing dependencymaps, versioning all resources 222, 226, maintaining detailed audittrails and allowing rollback in-case of an error. Updates to theapplication 230 can be put live in production using the developmentinterface 216 without disrupting operations.

As described herein, an embodiment of the development interface 216enables a software application 230 to be defined without requiringtraditional programming. Furthermore, the development interface 216 canbe utilized alongside the end user interface 218 by programmers and/ornon-technical personnel (e.g., developer(s)) to implement dynamicchanges to the application 230, while the application 230 is deployedand being utilized by other users 14 within an entity. To this extent,the development interface 216 can enable the development and maintenanceof adaptive business applications 230 by making it easier for all users14 in an entity to collaborate across distributed and diverse systems,including the application development and maintenance process.

FIGS. 9A-9I show illustrative graphical user interfaces, which can bepart of a development interface described herein, according toembodiments. To this extent, each of the interfaces can be generated byan application 230 (FIG. 2) for presentation to a user 14 (FIG. 2). Itis understood that while graphical user interfaces are shown asillustrative interfaces, the application 230 can manage any type ofinterface that enables a human or system user to manage the resources ofan application 230. The interfaces are described in conjunction withFIG. 2 as an illustrative environment.

In FIG. 9A, the interface provides an inventory of links to applicationresources for presentation to a user 14. Each entry (row) in the tablecan correspond to an resource 224, 228 of an application 230. Asillustrated, the interface can provide various attributes correspondingto each resource 224, 228 to the user 14, including for example, acorresponding identifier, a name, a type, a status, and application(activity). Additionally, the interface can: enable the user 14 to finda specific set of resources 224, 228; filter the resources 224, 228provided by subject and/or one or more of the attributes (e.g., byselecting the ‘F’ interface control next to each attribute); sort theresources 224, 228 by an attribute (e.g., by selecting the attributeheading); and/or the like.

In FIG. 9B, the interface provides an ability for a user 14 to viewand/or modify one or more aspects of a model defining an application(activity) performed by the application 230. As illustrated, theinterface can display: various properties of the activity; arelationship graph for implementing the activity; user interface(s) usedin the activity; workflow(s) used in the activity; stages and statusescorresponding to the activity; and/or the like. The relationship graphcan distinguish the various types of resources 224, 228 used toimplement the activity. For example, the types of resources 224, 228 caninclude: an application (activity); an entity; a task; a function; auser interface; a report; a policy; and/or the like. Using theinterface, a user 14 can select a resource 224, 228 (e.g., in therelationship graph) and view/modify details corresponding to theresource 224, 228.

In FIG. 9C, the interface enables a user 14 to obtain additionalinformation corresponding to a resource 224, 228 being viewed. Forexample, the interface is shown displaying information corresponding toa resource 224, 228 named “Demonstrator.” The user 14 can view variousinformation corresponding to a full lifecycle of changes made to theresource 224, 228, e.g., by clicking on the view link for the lifecycleand being presented with the popup window shown. The lifecycle historycan include information corresponding to the change, such as forexample, a user responsible for the change, a description of the change,a date/timestamp for the change, and/or the like.

In FIG. 9D, the interface provides information of a model resourcecorresponding to a task resource 224, 228 (named “Review Submission” inthis case) for presentation to a user 14. The user 14 can use theinterface to modify one or more attributes of the task resource 224,228. As illustrated, the interface can include a process path screen,which displays a simulation of the pre- (e.g., how the task isinitiated) and post- (e.g., the possible tasks following the currenttask) conditions for the corresponding task. A user 14 can use theinterface to modify one or more attributes of the task, such asadd/remove a next task, the conditions for the next task, and/or thelike.

In FIG. 9E, the interface provides a decision table, which enables auser 14 to define one or more parameters and/or triggers used todetermine a next task at the conclusion of a task. In this case, threefunctions are evaluated and summed using a scaling factor to calculatethe corresponding result. Using the interface, a user 14 can addadditional function(s), remove a function, adjust the scaling factor fora function, and/or the like.

In FIG. 9F, the interface enables a user 14 to create/view/modify a rule(policy) resource 224, 228 of an application. Attributes of the rule caninclude: the user(s) to which the rule applies; privileges,restrictions, actions, and/or the like, the rule enforces; a set ofconditions triggering the rule; and/or the like.

In FIG. 9G, the interface enables a user 14 to create/view/modify a userinterface resource 224, 228. As illustrated, the user 14 can: add afield to the user interface; change one or more attributes of the userinterface; and/or the like. Furthermore, for each field of the userinterface, the interface can enable the user 14 to obtain additionalinformation and/or modify one or more aspects of the field as shown inthe popup interface.

In FIG. 9H, the interface illustrates a user 14 requesting amodification to an resource 224, 228 while using the application 230 toperform an activity. As illustrated, the user 14 is requesting that anadditional valid data value be added for an attribute. Once the requestis complete, the user 14 can submit the change for review by anotheruser 14 (e.g., a developer). In this manner, the application 230 canenable real time collaboration between the different types of users 14.

In FIG. 9I, the interface illustrates a user 14 (e.g., a developer)providing a decision to the requested modification shown in FIG. 9H. Asillustrated, the user 14 can approve, deny, or request additionalinformation regarding the change. When approved, the user 14 can approvethe change along with a scope of the change, e.g., for all users or asubset of the users (e.g., only the requesting user 14, a subset ofusers similar to the requesting user 14, and/or the like).

As described herein, a system for managing a software application can beimplemented, in which the previous distinction between development andruntime is eliminated. To this extent, aspects of the invention canprovide one or more of:

a) a modeling environment, which is an application of the system, e.g.,an instantiation of the system;

b) modeling within the modeling environment application is an executionof the system;

c) no separation between “design-time” and “run-time”, the system can befully dynamic—there is just “interaction-time”, which is aninstantiation of the system;

d) the modeling environment application can be an application forcreating and/or modifying other applications and other applicationresources;

e) the modeling environment application can be configured for use by anon-technical business analyst, or other user, to declaratively designnew and/or modify existing models (meta-resources);

f) models can include, but are not limited to: business entities(including people); business policies; applications; capabilities;automated scripts/business processes; tasks; adaptors for third partyservices; APIs; databases; systems; devices; etc.

g) the modeling environment application can generate system validatedand well-formed resources, e.g., a discrete meta-resource representingthe “model” the user chose to create or modify (the system can supportthe principle of “immutability” such that ‘modify’ also results in a newmeta-resource) and a set of atomic and/or other meta-resources thatsupport the model;

h) in the modeling environment application, the user can associate otheratomic and/or other meta-resources using links and metadata references,and/or adding other new atomic and/or other meta-resources;

i) the system can operate (‘run’) without the modeling environmentapplication, it is an alternative to hand-writing resources and manuallyconnecting them with links and metadata references, likewise themodeling environment application can benefit from all properties of thesystem design (e.g., contextual, extensible, configurable, adaptable,etc.) and can avail itself of all system properties (embodied in otheratomic and meta-resources);

j) the system can be fully dynamic and based on stateless, immutable,loosely-coupled resources (atomic and meta), in which case all models(themselves resources) are handled by representations (as withREST-style architecture) and bound late in real time by the system(separating the model from its implementation);

k) in response to an interaction request, the system can interpretrepresentations (resources handled by representation as in REST-stylearchitecture) of models, follow links, resolve metadata references(including complex and probabilistic queries—real-time businessIntelligence and predictive analytics within the transactionmicro-flow);

l) the late-binding of representations of models supports the separationof the model from implementation, the declarative link and metadatareferences of the model can be ‘substituted’ for values/resources(atomic or meta-resources) at run-time for the specific implementation,such customization can be referred to as local variance of an instanceof a model (including user-driven modification and automated“personalization”);

m) separation of the model from implementation supports run-timecustomization of all interactions, including ‘concerns’ at all levels ofthe system (application logic; enterprise governance policies; systemcontrols; and/or the like), wherein the ‘concerns’ are represented byother models that also bind at run-time so they are specific to theinteraction;

n) separation of the model from implementation can support run-timeadaptability of all models as the ‘designer’ of a model can delegateconfiguration and extension of the model to a user of the model atrun-time for either 1) their individual interaction; 2) to change orrequest a change to the overall model—in this case discrete models(e.g., tools/capabilities) of the modeling environment application canbe made available to that user for that purpose; and

o) the late-binding of representations of models supports the separationof the model from implementation, the declarative link and metadatareferences of the model can be ‘substituted’ for values/resources(atomic or meta-resources) at run-time for the specific implementation,such customization can be referred to as global change of a model(including user-driven modification and automated “machine learning”).

While shown and described herein as an application meta-model and systemfor self-modification, it is understood that aspects of the inventionfurther provide various alternative embodiments. For example, in oneembodiment, the invention provides a computer program fixed in at leastone computer-readable storage medium, which when executed, enables acomputer system to provide dynamic design, use, and modification ofmodels using a declarative application meta-model that provides forself-modification of a collection of the models as described herein. Tothis extent, the computer-readable medium includes program code, such asthe application 112 (FIG. 1) and/or the application 130 (FIG. 1), whichenables a computer system to implement some or all of a processdescribed herein. It is understood that the term “computer-readablestorage medium” comprises one or more of any type of tangible medium ofexpression, now known or later developed, from which a copy of theprogram code can be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated bya computing device. For example, the computer-readable storage mediumcan comprise: one or more portable storage articles of manufacture; oneor more memory/storage components of a computing device; and/or thelike.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of providing acopy of program code, such as the application 112 (FIG. 1) and/or theapplication 130 (FIG. 1), which enables a computer system to implementsome or all of a process described herein. In this case, a computersystem can process a copy of the program code to generate and transmit,for reception at a second, distinct location, a set of data signals thathas one or more of its characteristics set and/or changed in such amanner as to encode a copy of the program code in the set of datasignals. Similarly, an embodiment of the invention provides a method ofacquiring a copy of the program code, which includes a computer systemreceiving the set of data signals described herein, and translating theset of data signals into a copy of the computer program fixed in atleast one computer-readable medium. In either case, the set of datasignals can be transmitted/received using any type of communicationslink.

In still another embodiment, the invention provides a method ofgenerating a system for providing dynamic design, use, and modificationof models using a declarative application meta-model that provides forself-modification of a collection of the models as described herein. Inthis case, the generating can include configuring a computer system,such as the computer system 152 (FIG. 1), to implement a processdescribed herein. The configuring can include obtaining (e.g., creating,maintaining, purchasing, modifying, using, making available, etc.) oneor more hardware components, with or without one or more softwaremodules, and setting up the components and/or modules to implement aprocess described herein. To this extent, the configuring can includedeploying one or more components to the computer system, which cancomprise one or more of: (1) installing program code on a computingdevice; (2) adding one or more computing and/or I/O devices to thecomputer system; (3) incorporating and/or modifying the computer systemto enable it to perform a process described herein; and/or the like.

The foregoing description of various aspects of the invention has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations arepossible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to anindividual in the art are included within the scope of the invention asdefined by the accompanying claims.

1. A computer system comprising: a processing component; and a storagecomponent, wherein the storage component includes at least onenon-transitory computer-readable medium storing a software application,wherein the software application, when executed by the processingcomponent, enables the computer system to implement an environment formanaging models, wherein the managing includes: processing an electroniccommunication in a runtime environment by binding a model of acollection of the models to dynamically construct an implementation ofthe model in the collection of the models, the electronic communicationidentifying a request; and wherein the binding comprising late-bindingof an application associated with the collection of the models enablesat least one user to perform at least one interaction using theenvironment without disrupting any of the environment or theapplication.
 2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the managingenables continuous real-time testing, simulation, deployment, andmodification of the collection of the models.
 3. The computer system ofclaim 1, wherein the software application includes an intermediarycomponent, wherein the intermediary component: receives the request;processes the model in the collection of the models in response to therequest; and provides at least one implementation of the model for useby a requesting user in response to the request.
 4. The computer systemof claim 3, wherein the intermediary component includes: a constructionservice resource configured to generate the at least one implementationof the model; and a system controller, wherein the system controllerreceives the request, causes a representation of the constructionservice resource to process the request, and provides the at least oneimplementation of the model for use by the requesting user.
 5. Thecomputer system of claim 3, wherein the intermediary component manages aplurality of distinct collections of the models using a declarativeapplication meta-model.
 6. The computer system of claim 5, wherein atleast one of the plurality of distinct collections of models defineslogic for at least one of a process and a second software application.7. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the managing includesexecuting an instance of the at least one of the process and the secondsoftware application, and wherein the requesting user can modify aconfiguration of the at least one of the process and the second softwareapplication during the executing.
 8. The computer system of claim 1,wherein a set of models of modification controls enables a requestinguser to modify at least one of a configuration of a model for therequesting user and a configuration of the model for use in allsubsequent instances of the model.
 9. The computer system of claim 8,wherein the configuration of the set of models of modification controlsis modifiable.
 10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein a set ofrestrictions on configuration of the model is configured using the modelin the collection of the models.
 11. A computer program productcomprising program code stored on at least one tangiblecomputer-readable medium, which when executed, enables a computer systemto implement a method of managing models, wherein the method includes:processing an electronic communication in a runtime environment bybinding a model of a collection of the models to dynamically constructan implementation of the model in the collection of the models, theelectronic communication identifying a request; and wherein the bindingcomprising late-binding of an application associated with the collectionof the models enables at least one user to perform at least oneinteraction using the environment without disrupting any of theenvironment or the application.
 12. The computer program product ofclaim 11, wherein the managing enables continuous real-time testing,simulation, deployment, and modification of the collection of themodels.
 13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein theprogram product includes an intermediary component, wherein theintermediary component: receives the request; processes the model in thecollection of the models in response to the request; and provides atleast one implementation of the model for use by a requesting user inresponse to the request.
 14. The computer program product of claim 13,wherein the intermediary component includes: a construction serviceresource configured to generate the at least one implementation of themodel; and a system controller, wherein the system controller receivesthe request, causes a representation of the construction serviceresource to process the request, and provides the at least oneimplementation of the model for use by the requesting user.
 15. Thecomputer program product of claim 13, wherein the intermediary componentmanages a plurality of distinct collections of models using adeclarative application meta-model.
 16. The computer program product ofclaim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of distinct collectionsof models defines logic for at least one of a process and a softwareapplication.
 17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein themanaging includes executing an instance of the at least one of theprocess and the software application, and wherein the requesting usercan modify a configuration of the at least one of the process and thesoftware application during the executing.
 18. The computer programproduct of claim 11, wherein a set of models of modification controlsenables a requesting user to modify at least one of a configuration of amodel for the requesting user and a configuration of the model for usein all subsequent instances of the model.
 19. A computerized method ofmanaging models, wherein the method includes: processing an electroniccommunication in a runtime environment by binding a model of acollection of the models to dynamically construct an implementation ofthe model in the collection of the models, the electronic communicationidentifying a request; and wherein the binding comprising late-bindingof an application associated with the collection of the models enablesat least one user to perform at least one interaction using theenvironment without disrupting any of the environment or theapplication.
 20. The computerized method of claim 19, wherein thecollection of models defines logic for at least one of a process and asoftware application.